WEBVTT
N THE LAST WEEK.
A SIGN READING "MOM" HANGS ON
THE WALL OF A CHARRED HOME IN
NORTHWEST BALTIMORE, WHERE FIRE
OFFICIALS SAY AN ELDERLY WOMAN
SCREAMED FOR HELP MONDAY
EVENING.
>> SHE WAS SAYING HER SON WAS IN
THERE, SO WE WERE SAYING COME OF
THE PORCH, BUT SHE WAS IN SHOCK.
REPORTER: DANA YARBOROUGH SAYS
HE PULLED THE WOMAN TO SAFETY
THEN TRIED TO RESCUE HER SON.
DANA: WE KICKED THE DOOR IN, THE
BASEMENT DOOR IN, FIRE AND SMOKE
WAS COMING OUT THERE REALLY
HEAVY, SO THERE WAS NOTHING WE
COULD DO BUT WAIT FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
REPORTER: INVESTIGATORS SAY THE
MAN IN HIS 50'S DIED.
THE MOTHER WAS TREATED FOR SMOKE
INHALATION.
WHILE THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN,
PENDING AN AUTOPSY THIS FATALITY
, WILL BE THE 12TH OF THE YEAR
, SIX IN THE LAST WEEK INCLUDING
FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
>> I KNOW MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE
GOING TO BE REMEMBERED FOR THE
SMILE ON THEIR FACE, THE JOY
THEY GIVE TO OTHERS, AND THE
THINGS THEY DID FOR OTHERS.
REPORTER: SADLY, FIRE OFFICIALS
SAY ALL THE RECENT FIRES COULD
HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
COMMANDER CLARK: ONE WAS
CHILDREN PLAYING WITH MATCHES,
THE OTHER ONE WAS UNATTENDED
COOKING, THE OTHER WAS DUE TO
OVERHEATED ELECTRIC WIRES AND
EXTENSION CORDS RUNNING UNDER
CARPET ON THE FLOOR.
REPORTER: COMMANDER CLARK URGING
PARENTS TO TEACH THEIR KIDS
BASIC FIRE SAFETY.
COMMANDER CLARK WATCH YOUR
: CHILDREN, MAKE SURE THERE ARE
NO MATCHES OR LAYS -- LETTERS
AROUND CHILDREN.
IT'S JUST AS DANGEROUS AS HAVING
A LOADED GUN.
REPORTER: FIRE OFFICIALS ARE
ALSO URGING PEOPLE TO HAVE A
FIRE EVACUATION PLAN, AND GO
THROUGH THAT PLAN WITH YOUR
CHILDREN.

Later Saturday, Polly Taylor, 90, died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries from a house fire in the 400 block of Denison Street. Fire officials said the fire was caused by overheated electrical cords under the carpet.

"One was children playing with matches, one was unattended cooking, the other was due to electric wires and extension cords running under carpet on the floor," Baltimore Fire Department Capt. Roman Clark said. "Watch your children to make sure there's no lighters or matches. It's just as dangerous as having a loaded gun."

Fire officials are also urging people to have a fire evacuation plan, and go through that plan with your children.